Attention Local 600 members : PFRS needs you !
24 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ SEPTEMBER 2018
JIM TOMA
STATE DELEGATE
In the August issue of NJ COPS Magazine , and at our most recent state meeting , State PBA President Pat Colligan detailed the need for members with the proper background and education to submit their interest in becoming a representative on the new PFRS Board . In short , we need the “ right ” person , not just “ a great guy ” who believes in doing the right thing for COLA and other retired interests . We need a person who not only meets those interests but who also has the education , training and experience needed to participate fully in the management of our retirement system .
Some of the tasks given to this board will be to “ formulate and establish , amend or repeal policies as is necessary , which govern the methods , practices or procedures for investment , reinvestment , purchase , sale or exchange of transactions to be followed by the Division of Investment .”
This person will have a say on hiring a chief investment officer , which is a vital position . The Board of Trustees will have the discretionary authority to “ modify the member contribution rate , cap on creditable compensation , formula for calculation of final compensation , age at which members may be eligible and the benefits for retirement , standards for approval , medical review policies and benefits provided for disability .” I quote these requirements to emphasize the importance of putting forward the right person . This will be a tremendous responsibility , but also a tremendous opportunity . We have so many accomplished retired members , and that person needs to step forward . Please contact the State office c / o Rob Nixon , or if you want to send your interest and / or background to me , James Toma , Local 600 State Delegate , I will forward to the proper authority .
We bit off more than we could chew
On another note , PBA Local 600 has decided after much review to no longer promote or link to the dental program that has been available to our members . The plan is still in place for current members , and we will put contact numbers and website information on our discounts page for current users of the plan and anyone interested in the future . However , for us as a volunteer Local , it has become too costly and cumbersome to coordinate for all members . Those who enrolled will experience no interruption of service , and within the next month we will have the contact info on our website if any new members want to explore the coverage .
In memoriam
All of our members are special and have paved the way for all of us . So when we lose one , it is important to remember his or her contribution . This month , I want to pay tribute to two officers who recently passed :
First , Stanley Matejkowski Jr , who passed away at the age of 92 . Stan was a former Seaside Park and Seaside Heights police officer , a past delegate for Local 252 and a life member of local 600 . Stan left four daughters and sons-in-laws , 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren . But other than his family , Stan ’ s greatest moments came when he enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 16 in 1942 . He was a member of “ I ” Company , 3rd Battalion , 21st Regiment , 3rd Marine Division . He fought in the Battle for Guam and then was shipped to Iwo Jima on the second day of that battle . He remembered seeing the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi . While fighting across the island , he was wounded and received the Purple Heart for those injuries . Stan left the service in 1946 but reenlisted in 1948 for another two years . We want to thank Stan ’ s family for their dad ’ s service and his quiet respect and dignity on how he handled being a member of the “ Greatest Generation .”
In August , we lost Anthony Della Serra , who died at the age of 75 . Tony was a Clark police officer and detective for 25 years , and he served in the Navy in the early-to-mid 1960s . And he was a friend , mentor and big brother . There were many people whose lives were touched by Tony ; some by his mentoring , some by his leadership and some by his wrath . I was lucky enough to experience all three , sometimes within the same shift . We became friends on my first day as a cop , when I was 21 and he was 36 . He taught me too
many things to go into here , but we had a lot of fun along the way . My love and condolences to his entire family , especially his wife Jean , daughter Dena and son Anthony . d
Jim Toma ( left ) celebrates his wedding with former Clark officer Anthony Della Serra ( second from right ).”